James Conlon

James Conlon is one of the most esteemed and influential conductors of our time—a rare figure whose work has defined and enriched the classical music traditions of the U.S. and Europe for over 50 years. Since his New York Philharmonic debut in 1974, he has led nearly every major American and European orchestra and has conducted at most of the world’s most prestigious opera houses. Uniquely versatile, he is among the few conductors equally accomplished in symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. Through his extensive touring, acclaimed recordings, published writings, and widely recognized public presence, he stands as one of classical music’s most visible and enduring artistic leaders.

Conlon is Music Director of LA Opera, where since 2006 he has led more performances than any other conductor in the company’s history. He will serve as Music Director of the company until his 20th season in 2026, at which time he will become Conductor Laureate. He has been Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera; General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany, where he was Music Director of both the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the Cologne Opera; Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of the Orchestra Nazionale Della RAI in Torino, Italy. He has served as Music Director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony, and Artistic Advisor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He is now Music Director Laureate of the Cincinnati May Festival, where he was Music Director for 37 years. As a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, he has led more than 270 performances since his 1976 debut. 

He is a noted advocate for composers suppressed by the Nazi regime and is an enthusiastic advocate of public scholarship and he appears throughout the country as a speaker on a variety of cultural and educational topics. At LA Opera, his popular pre-performance talks — each attended by over 1,000 people — draw upon musicology, literary studies, history, and social sciences to contemplate the enduring power and relevance of opera, and classical music in general. 

His accolades include a 2002 Légion d'Honneur from then-President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac, a 2018 Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana from Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, and a 2023 Cross of Honor for Science and Art (Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst) from the Republic of Austria.